Bio Government’s Planned Rice Tariff Increase Sparks Opposition Warning of Malnutrition Risks

Hon. Daniel Koroma, Deputy Leader of Sierra Leone’s opposition All People’s Congress (APC), raised urgent concerns in Parliament on Tuesday regarding the government’s planned increase in rice import tariffs.

Citing severe risks of malnutrition and starvation, Koroma criticized the administration’s progressive tariff policy, warning it could harm the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

During a debate on President Julius Maada Bio’s August 6 national address, Koroma challenged the government’s decision to implement a 10% increase in rice import tariffs by 2025, applied through a 5% rise each year. Koroma argued that such increases, placed on the country’s staple food, would severely exacerbate food insecurity in Sierra Leone, which already ranks as one of the most food-insecure nations globally.

A recent global study by Microtrends.net placed Sierra Leone as the 117th most food-insecure country out of 127 surveyed. Koroma highlighted this ranking, underscoring the country’s status among the “10 hungriest countries in the world” and stressing that the tariff hikes could sharply escalate food scarcity. “We are among the 10 hungriest countries in the world,” Koroma said. “This price increase will only worsen poverty and leave many people at risk of starvation and malnutrition.”

Koroma expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the tariff policy, noting the financial struggles faced by the majority of Sierra Leoneans, who often live on minimum wage and are already unable to afford basic food items like rice. “People cannot even afford a 50kg bag of rice,” he added, describing the proposed policy as potentially devastating to the population’s nutrition and health.

In his speech, Koroma warned that increased rice prices would likely reverse recent progress in reducing child mortality, stating, “All the gains we’ve made in tackling child mortality could be washed away by malnutrition.”

Koroma called on lawmakers to take swift action, urging an amendment or repeal of Section 3 of the Finance Act of 2024, which authorizes the tariff increases. “This section must be revised. We cannot allow this tariff increase to continue,” he stated. He concluded by stressing the importance of prioritizing food security and implementing economic policies that support impoverished citizens.

“Our people are struggling to survive. This increase is not in the best interest of the nation,” Koroma emphasized, urging the government to reconsider its position on rice tariffs in light of the country’s precarious food security situation.